ten

As shown in the previous post, my iPhone didn’t come back from Rehoboth the same way that it left. Luckily, it still works. Even the touchscreen aspects are still functioning properly although there is a little bit of “scratch” on some parts of the screen. It’s not enough to scratch my finger but it’s still friction.

This is how it happened:

We all woke up on Saturday and did the normal routine: coffee and computers on the back deck. It’s such a great time, those mornings, usually nursing a slight hangover, bedhead, clacking away on keyboards, talking & laughing about the previous evening’s activities.

We decide to head out for breffus and we go to Sunshine in Dewey Beach. There I have a gyro omelette, which sounds crazy but was delicious. Afterwards, we split for errands. Christopher is going to do some shopping so I decide to hang out with him, driving around in the top-off Jeep. Well, I’m texting, checking status, etc while we’re stuck in traffic and instead of putting the phone into my pocket which I normally do I put it on the seat, between my legs, figuring that I’m only going to be breaking out to do something else soon. Of course I forget about it there when we stop in the parking. I open the door, slide out of the slide and crash goes the phone on the pavement. Crakt.

After much cursing I decided to not let this incident destroy my beach weekend. It works, deal with the mess later.

Now, dealing with the mess later, I’m exploring options on what to do about this. I first go the Bethesda’s Apple Store because I could secure a quick appointment the afternoon of “The Crash”. I hadn’t been to that one before so it would be an adventure. I even saw cutie John King from CNN there at the Genius Bar. But the Genius told me it was $200 for a glass screen/sensitivity chamber replacement which is the cost for a new 3G/S. Next.

Then a friend sent me notice of takeitapart.com which is a great little site that demonstrates how to, um, take things apart. In true Web 2.0 fashion there is a YouTube clip with each instruction so you can watch along. Really nice. But unfortunately the first generation iPhone is as easily accessible as the newer ones and the voiceover on the instructional video was “yeah, this is kind tender here… don’t do this unless you’re really sure… ” something like that. I check the price of the parts and they’re practically $140, which is comparable to the cost of a new model.

Now what to do?

I’m at the beach. I came down with Eddy (and full-grown yet little dog Buddy) yesterday; Chris & Jeff came down the day before.

Last night was making the usual rounds at Aqua for cocktails and then Nicola’s for pizza w/ extra sauce and extra cheese. Then back home for True Blood and standup comedy. It may sound rather bland and routine but that’s the way time is spent at the beach and it’s relaxing and carefree.

For instance, our mornings are spent drinking coffee and Facebooking/surfing on the back deck. Sometimes we have to piece together the previous evening but since there are only four of us here I don’t think things are going to get too out of hand. But you never know. It’s exactly noon now and half of us are still on the back porch: Chris is watching True Blood on Hulu and I’m writing this. Our afternoon hasn’t been planned out yet and that’s the pace at which things go. It’s nice.

Just now, a notice from Eddy to get showered, our day is starting to move forward.

Taking advice from friends and talk show hosts, last week I decided (after 14 years of residency) to obtain a DC Library card. The main reason for doing this was to have a new book to take to the beach with me. A supplemental reason was because it was free. They’ve got DVDs there too and I’m cranking down my Netflix to the minimum (cash-saving move) and I can pick up supplemental discs from the library.

I decided to checkout Douglas Coupland’s “The Gum Thief” which has been out for a year or so but I never got around to purchasing and, of course, there’s no way I can pay for a book now.

I took it to the beach but because of having too much fun with the dozen friends there, I didn’t even crack the cover. I did start reading it in the car on the way back though.

———

The above was written almost a month ago, May 29. I barreled halfway through the book but then had to slow down. I finished it a couple of weeks ago but held onto it in case I needed to reference it this post. In true fashion, it sat there collecting dust like the characters in the book-within-a-book Glove Pond, written by Roger, the main storyteller in TGF.

As it sat there and I pushed back it’s due date I started to think more and more about Roger. Roger is in his early/mid-forties (I think he’s 43—this is why I wanted to keep the book awhile longer for reference). His life is in freefall: his wife has left him, a son has been killed in a car accident and he’s lost his job. He’s forced to take a mind-numbing job as a stockboy at Staples, but you get the sense he’s okay with this since he can drink on the job.

Minus the failed relationship and the deceased son, I can relate to Roger’s situation. Forced to take a McJob and half-sleep out of his car (at least he has one) he retreats into the book he’s writing, picking up character traits for his fictional characters from his old-enough-to-be-my-offspring coworkers and what few adults remain in his life.

I have not uttered a word in 43 hours.

Last week I passed the six-month mark of being unemployed. The majority of jobs I can find that I’m qualified for are positions or employers I don’t want to hold/work for. I’ve received notice that my food stamp benefits are to be cut at the end of this month, unless I can convince them otherwise when I have a meeting with my case worker next week. I’m not sure how long my unemployment benefits will continue; it’s supposed to be a year now but I haven’t heard any word and I’m hoping that’s a good thing.

But it may be time for this to come to an end, and not a happy ending. I may be Roger, having to take whatever is available at any level, working at Staples or Best Buy or some other immediately-hating and soul-sucking McJob. Do you want fries with that?

This day has been filled with so many friends, so many wonderful experiences and I’m so far removed from my miserable daily drudgery that I had to write this short post.

That’s it.

I don’t think I’ll be able to do live blogging this weekend like I did last. I’m headed to Rehoboth (in Delaware, like last weekend) for sunshine, seafood, cocktails and a great time with about 15 friends. Most of these people I know pretty well, some I’ve met a couple of times and there are some newbies thrown in there as well.

We’re all staying at my gracious friends Jeff & Christopher, the same dudes who own the pHabulous pHierce School. They throw a Memorial Day theme party, dubbed “Tiki” and that will the main event on Sunday, but we’ve got a couple days before then to spend some time in the sun and attend happy hours and laugh and eat and sleep-in. Is it okay for the unemployed to take a vacation?

2:42 Passing one of those new Kia Cube cars, or whatever they’re called. It’s white and looks like something off of a Space:1999 set.

3:32 Lady Gaga on the system.

3:53 We just caught some air going thru an intersection. The bike is still safely secured to the roof, in case you were wondering.

3:57 We’re stopping at Elmer’s Produce to pick up a watermelon!

4:13 Quote from Eddy: “Disco is the shit!”

4:53 We’re here!

6:48 Everyone has arrived, four cars. We’re having a cosmo here at the house before heading to Aqua for happy hour before sundown. Cheers!

8:30 Quote from Lana: “Dont be a stranger with that vodka.”

10:26 At Finn’s, just finished a fabulous seafood sampling dinner. Mussels, clams, oysters and shrimps. All fresh from the bay/ocean, the preservatives had not killed the fresh taste of mercury.

1:26 Reliving the nights fun and giggling. How many people are in this car?

3:03 Nite.

Received in yesterday’s mail:

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Package) included additional benefits as a part of the money received by Virginia. Unemployment Compensation benefits will increase by $25.00 per week. The first week for which $25.00 can be paid is the benefit week ending February 28, 2009.

The virginia Employment Commision (VEC) will be issuing you a lump sum payment, if you were paid at least $1.00 for the week ending February 28, 2009, and any subsequent weeks. After the lump sum payment has been issued, the $25.00 will be added to your regular weekly entitlement.

This would explain the $225.00 deposit into my account a couple of weeks ago. I was assuming it was an error and would be retrieved at some later date. My weekly benefits go from $340.20 to $362.70. Hello, beach money!

Out of the next 24 days, I will be in town for seven of those days. This weekend is a trip to Wilmington, DE, “A Place To Be Somebody”, Memorial Day weekend I’ve been graciously invited to Poodle Rehoboth Beach and the following week I am going to be gainfully employed as an au pair.

Of course I realize this as I’ve already make a trek to the grocery store. I’m thinking of things I should consume at home that are already cooked or produce that will spoil, so this trip is a stocking-up of items that have a shelf life or that I can freeze: chicken ($0.99 per pound—bargain!), boxed & canned goods. I even used the self-checkout. I am a man in motion.

Purchase: $29.16
EBT Card Balance: $193.25
Club Card Savings: $12.25 (30% of purchase)

It’s easy like Sunday morning, here.

We have laughed and had a great time this entire weekend. We have also eaten so much wonderful food this weekend that I’ve tried to chronicle.

After our morning routine of morning coffees on the back porch, recounting the previous evening’s events and checking/updating emails and Facebook pages, brunch is calling.

Cuban Mix sandwiches are the call of the day and the only place for those is Cafe Sole. Another item tempting me on the menu is the chicken salad cordon bleu: best of both worlds, right? Chris and I decide to split sandwiches, so I get my chicken salad, he gets the Cuban and both end up delicious. For desert? Deviled eggs. Yum. We do a little walking shopping and then it’s time to go back to the house for a quick nap and then time for me, Chris and Michael to get on the road for our return trip; we have to work tomorrow while the rest of the team gets to stay and play for another day.

I’m up at 7:56 this morning, luckily early enough to be included on the only pot of coffee made (errand #1: get more coffee).

On the deck, as others wake up and join us, we’re reading the news of Obama’s running mate, Joe Biden. Cell phones are clicking on news sites and political commentary video plays from the laptop.

Breakfast Buffet: the kitchen is crazy busy, Jeff cooking up breakfast for thirty, although there are only seven of us in the house. Bagels, yogurt, grapes, another pot of coffee, fried eggs, bacon, two kinds of sausage and yet one more pot of coffee.

The overcast clouds are breaking apart, blue skies coming through and shadows being cast throughout the yard. It’s almost time to pack up and hit the sand!

Time: 5:55. We’re back from the beach, what a day! The sun finally broke through and we got some really good sun. I’m a little pinker but I’ve just dunked my entire body in lotion so I should do okay.

Three of us found three different dollar bills today, one of them floating in the ocean! So we took the floater and bought a ticket for tonight’s lottery with a prize of $54 million. Our lucky numbers are 15, 22, 39, 45, 46 and Powerball 02. Cross your fingers.

We’re energized for a night out and start it off by going to Blue Moon (which was dead) where I noticed their calendar had Pamala Stanley performing just about every other evening, all summer long, but unfortunately she was not performing tonight. A little history of Ms. Stanley: one-hit wonder singing the club hit “Coming Out of Hiding”, a staple at Lost & Found in 1984.

All of a sudden, Ms. Stanley’s name is called out (not by me) and I turned around and there she is walking down the sidewalk! I excitedly went over and talked to her and got some pictures taken. She was gracious and only a little tipsy but a good sport about the adoring fans.

After the Ms. Stanley happening dinner was in order and Chris wanted us to go for seafood at Fin’s Fishhouse. I opted for the North Carolina swordfish steak with broccoli and the best mac-n-cheese that I’ve had in my life. Everyone else’s meal was equally fantastic and included shrimp, scallops, mussels, oysters, clams and just about everything else under the sea. We were all so full from out meal that it was almost painful to walk the four blocks to the car. Needless to say, there was no late-night chit chat on the back porch, we all wanted to get in bed and be asleep as quickly as possible.